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Southern Africa comprises a zone where the total fertility rate is below 6 births per woman. To the north is a ring of countries with higher fertility and relatively low contraceptive prevalence rates. The experience of South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe, which have successful family planning programs, is compared with that of neighboring countries.
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Treatment with toltrazuril (Baycox) in calves naturally infected with several enteropathogenic agents resulted in a reduction in the mean number of Eimeria oocysts shed. The mean faecal consistency for the treated calves also differed significantly from that of the untreated calves. There was virtually no difference in weight gain in the two groups.
The Livestock Weather Safety Index (LWSI) indicates that in large areas of South Africa and South West Africa/Namibia and for prolonged periods of the year warm conditions are causing heat stress in food-producing animals, especially dairy cattle, thereby hampering their performance. South Africa and South West Africa/Namibia have been mapped according to a modified LWSI, which includes the critical "temperature-humidity index" value for milk production. The importance of heat stress in dairy cattle is discussed relative to such areas.
A total of 34 patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) have been diagnosed in South West Africa/Namibia since 1970. Visceral leishmaniasis has not occurred. So far a sandfly Phlebotomus rossi has emerged as a possible vector of the disease in man. Several aspects of vector incrimination and bionomics still need clarification. Further carefully planned and directed field studies are required in an attempt to identify the reservoir host for human CL.
This paper contains a review of the formal research being done on the diseases and parasitic infestations of wild animals by universities and the state as well as other institutions in this part of the African continent. It is clear that most information obtained in this research is of an epidemiological or ecological nature and that ungulates, which form the bulk of the game-farming industry, are receiving the most attention. An analysis of the 20 most important diseases, which cover 6 disciplines, revealed that most of the research is being done for the benefit of livestock rather than wildlife. Seventeen of these diseases can be regarded as indigenous and 3 as being exotic to this part of Africa. Arguments are provided in favour of the concept that our game is genetically endowed, by virtue of centuries of adaptation, to handle the indigenous diseases, if their resistance is not compromised. None of the indigenous diseases constitute a threat to game populations, and hence no research on them is justified from an economic point of view. What is, however, absolutely essential, is research on game management with particular reference to those ecological factors which enable game on game-fenced farms to lead the sort of lives to which they are adapted. If this approach is not followed, further destruction of the habitat and deterioration of genetic disease resistance seem inevitable.
The molecular nature of lysosomal alpha-glucosidase deficiency was studied in five South African families with glycogenosis type II. Distinct ethnic origins were represented. Two new mutant acid alpha-glucosidase alleles were discovered. In two infantile patients from a consanguineous Indian family we found for the first time an acid alpha-glucosidase precursor of reduced size. The mutant precursor appeared normally glycosylated and phosphorylated but was not processed to mature enzyme. Abnormalities of the mRNA were not obvious, but digestion of genomic DNA with HindIII, BglII, and StuI revealed for each enzyme a fragment of increased length. Heterozygosity was demonstrated in the parents. Complete lack of acid alpha-glucosidase mRNA, as well as deficiency of precursor synthesis, was observed in two black baby girls from unrelated families. In these cases the length of all restriction-enzyme fragments was normal. Reduced enzyme synthesis but normal processing was registered in juvenile and young adult Cape colored patients. The extensive heterogeneity of glycogenosis type II is emphasized in these studies on various ethnic groups. The newly discovered mutants are valuable for the understanding of clinical diversity as a result of allelic variation.
An outbreak of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) in the Owambo Mangetti area of South West Africa/Namibia in 1982 led to the slaughter of 3,153 cattle. The lungs of 266 of these animals were scrutinized for gross lesions of CBPP and samples of lung tissue, sequestral contents or pleural fluid were submitted to the Veterinary Research Institute (VRI), Onderstepoort for microbiological, immunofluorescent and pathological examination. Immunofluorescence proved to be the most successful method of diagnosis producing 96% of positives, while mycoplasma isolations were only positive in 64% of the 55 specimens processed in parallel. This clearly demonstrated the value of the former technique in the accurate as well as rapid diagnosis of CBPP. The impression smear technique employed, using Eriochrome black counterstaining proved most satisfactory and easy to interpret. The isolation of M. mycoides was influenced by the transit times and temperature of the samples on arrival at the VRI. No pathogenic bacteria were found in routine aerobic bacterial cultures from 27 of the samples submitted. Complement fixing antibodies were present in the sera of 16 cattle and titres varied between 10 and 320. Animals in which antibodies were absent included those with early lung lesions and some with sequestra.
A postal survey was conducted to assess the validity of the register of medical practitioners held by the South African Medical and Dental Council. This register has been used by researchers as a data source for assessing the distribution of medical practitioners. The register is not adequate for this function unless adjusted by sample survey results. Crucially, it overestimates rural and homeland doctor resources. The survey also revealed under-representation of women as doctors (17% of all doctors are women) and as specialists (6% of all specialists are women) and unavailability due to retirement of registered doctors as service providers (6% of all registered doctors are retired), particularly in community health (24%). Collection of this information at annual registration is recommended, along with the establishment of an 'overseas' section of the South African register. Failure to implement these recommendations will seriously impede health services research.
In an epidemiological study conducted in SWA/Namibia to document the prevalence of high-risk factors for cervical cancer 754 women belonging to a number of ethnic groups were examined. The prevalence of cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia and human papillomavirus infection was among the highest reported in the world. There was also an alarming incidence of other sexually transmitted diseases and disturbingly low usage of contraceptive methods. There is an urgent need for a comprehensive, well-organised cytological screening programme if an 'epidemic' of cervical cancer is to be prevented in SWA/Namibia. There was good evidence to suggest that an identical situation exists in the RSA.
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Little has been published on cystic fibrosis (CF) in Whites in southern Africa, and no figures as to incidence exist. A register of CF patients, their parents (obligatory carriers), siblings, uncles, aunts and first cousins (potential carriers) has been compiled for southern Africa. The degree of co-operation shown by colleagues and by families whose addresses have been provided by them, and possible reasons for non-co-operation are discussed. From the numbers and birth dates of patients a rough estimate of the incidence in the Republic of South Africa, South West Africa and Rhodesia has been made. In all three regions, but especially in South Africa, incidence is likely to have been underestimated. Details available from the register include the number of CF patients alive and dead, those who presented with meconium ileus, the number of affected patients per family, consanguinity among the parents or grandparents, the frequency with which identical surnames were encountered, and the sibship sizes of all those on the register. Towns and districts with a population rich in the CF gene are mentioned. The number of potential carriers has been determined, so that they can be screened when a practicable detection test is devised. The register has answered a number of questions about CF in southern Africa. It has focused attention on the disease in the region and played a major catalytic role in the formation of the Southern African Cystic Fibrosis Association.
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A total of 23 kudu, Tragelaphus strepsiceros, were shot at 2-month intervals from June 1983 to April 1984 in the Etosha Game Reserve in the north of South West Africa/Namibia. The parasite survey conducted on these animals yielded 2 cestode and 12 nematode species. Haemonchus vegliai and Cooperia neitzi were the most prevalent nematodes and occurred in 13 animals each, followed by Cooperia acutispiculum and an Onchocerca sp. (9 animals each). The remaining nematodes were present in 4 (17%) or fewer of the antelope. C. neitzi was the most numerous nematode, a total of 3,564 being recovered from all the antelope, followed by C. acutispiculum (2,552) and H. vegliai (1,050). Individual total worm burdens varied from 4-1,326 with 2 kudu harbouring no worms. The mean burden of 399 worms was considered negligible. A single kudu was shot in the Namib-Naukluft Park in the south of the country. This animal harboured no parasites.
As the first part of a prospective epidemiological study of the lung function and dust exposure of workers at the Rössing Uranium Mine in SWA/Namibia, various measurements of lung function of 1,407 workers were carried out. This was necessary in order to follow up any chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that might develop. The opportunity was used to test existing prediction formulae and to develop formulae for normal values for workers at the Rössing mine.